Hey there! I had the same identity verification nightmare a few months ago. After trying endlessly to get through on the phone, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it changed everything. The service basically waits on hold with the IRS for you and then calls you when an agent is ready. It was the only way I finally spoke to someone after weeks of frustration. The conversation with the agent took less than 10 minutes and my refund was processed the following week. Best decision I made during tax season!

I feel your pain! I was in the exact same situation about a month ago - stuck in identity verification limbo and couldn't get through to anyone at the IRS no matter what time I called. It's absolutely maddening when you need that refund for important expenses like medical bills. Here's what finally worked for me: I called the regular IRS customer service line (1-800-829-1040) instead of the identity verification line. When I got through (which still took several attempts), I explained my situation and they were actually able to transfer me to someone who could help with identity verification. The agent told me that many people don't realize the general line can sometimes assist with this. Also, if you have your transcript available, you might want to try calling right at 7am EST and keep hitting redial for about 20-30 minutes straight. I know it sounds tedious but that's how I finally got through initially. Hang in there - I know how frustrating this is but you'll get through it!

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying about Maine being incredibly efficient! I moved here from New York last year and the difference is absolutely incredible. In NY, I was waiting 4-6 weeks minimum for my state refund, and that was with e-filing and direct deposit. Here in Maine, I filed on February 22nd and had my money by March 4th - exactly 8 business days. What really impressed me was how user-friendly their online portal is compared to other states. You can actually track your return through each stage and the status updates are meaningful, not just generic "processing" messages. As a fellow student (I'm at USM), I totally understand the stress about getting your refund in time for tuition. Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like Maine really does prioritize education-related returns, which is awesome for us! You should definitely be able to count on getting your money much faster than your California experience.

Wow, this thread is incredibly helpful! I just moved to Maine from Florida (where there's no state income tax) so this is my first time dealing with Maine taxes. Reading all these positive experiences about 5-10 day processing times is such a relief compared to what I was expecting based on horror stories from friends in other states. I'm planning to file next week and really hoping to get my refund quickly since I'm starting graduate school in the fall and need the money for deposits and fees. It sounds like Maine really has their act together compared to most states! Quick question for everyone - is there a particular day of the week that's better to file, or does it not really matter as long as you e-file with direct deposit?

One thing nobody's mentioned - if you're paying people regularly like that cousin who did your design work, and it's over $600 in a year, you should probably be sending them a 1099-NEC regardless of how you paid them on Venmo. The IRS doesn't care about Venmo's categories but they do care about tracking payments to contractors.

Just to add another perspective - I've been doing freelance graphic design for 3 years and use Venmo for probably 60% of my business transactions, all marked as "personal" to avoid fees. Never had an issue with the IRS. What matters is that you can substantiate the expense was legitimate and business-related. For your woodworking business, I'd recommend creating a simple system now before tax season gets crazy. I use a basic Google Sheet with columns for: Date, Amount, Recipient, Business Purpose, and Project/Client. Takes 30 seconds per transaction but saves hours during tax prep. One tip that's helped me - when I send Venmo payments for business stuff, I still put a brief note in the transaction even though it's marked "personal." Something like "lumber order" or "logo design." That way if anyone (including myself months later) looks at the transaction, there's at least some indication of what it was for right in the app. Your cousin's design work and your brother's wood pickup are absolutely deductible regardless of how Venmo categorized them. Just keep some record of what each payment was for and you're golden.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the importance of keeping detailed records throughout 2025. Since you're planning to pay rent directly to the landlord for both the first 5 months and potentially the last 7 months, make sure to keep copies of all rent checks or electronic payment confirmations. Also consider creating a simple spreadsheet to track all support you provide throughout the year - rent, groceries, tuition (via 529), and any other expenses you cover. This will make calculating the support test much easier when tax time comes around. Since your son's post-graduation income is uncertain, having this documentation will be crucial if you end up in a borderline situation where you need to prove you provided more than 50% of his total support. The direct rent payments are definitely in your favor, but good record-keeping will make everything much smoother. One final tip: if your son does get a high-paying job after graduation, consider whether it makes more sense for him to file his own return and claim himself, especially if he might qualify for education credits or other benefits that could outweigh your dependent exemption.

This is a great question that comes up frequently for parents with college-age children! You're absolutely correct in your understanding - direct payments to the landlord definitely count as support YOU provided, not your son. The IRS looks at who actually made the payment when determining support. When you write checks directly to the landlord or pay rent electronically from your account to theirs, that's clearly support provided by you. This is true even if your son has the income to cover the rent himself but chooses to use his money for other expenses. A few additional considerations for your situation: 1. **529 distributions** - Since you're using his 529 for tuition and other qualified expenses, these also count as support you provided, even though the account may technically be in his name. 2. **Groceries you purchase** - If you're buying groceries directly or paying for meal plans, keep those receipts as they also count toward your support calculation. 3. **Post-graduation period** - Even if he gets a well-paying job after graduation, continuing to pay his rent directly will still count as your support. What matters is who pays the bills, not who has the capacity to pay them. 4. **Documentation** - Keep copies of all rent payments, 529 distributions, and other direct payments you make for his benefit. This will make calculating the support test straightforward and provide backup if needed. Your strategy of making direct payments is smart and will help ensure you can claim him as a dependent for 2025, assuming you meet the 50% support threshold overall.

This whole thread has been such a goldmine of information! As someone who works as a tax preparer, I wanted to add one more angle that might be helpful - the recordkeeping aspect for medical expenses. Beyond just keeping receipts, I always tell my clients to create a simple spreadsheet tracking all medical expenses throughout the year with columns for date, provider, amount, and what it was for. This makes it so much easier when tax time comes around, whether you end up itemizing or not. For hearing aids specifically, also keep records of any insurance communications showing they won't cover the cost. The IRS sometimes asks for documentation proving that expenses weren't reimbursed by insurance, especially for larger medical equipment purchases. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're 65 or older, you might also want to look into whether your state offers any additional tax benefits for hearing aids. Some states have their own medical expense deductions or credits that kick in at lower thresholds than the federal 7.5% AGI requirement. Your plan to check HSA funds first is definitely the right move - I can't tell you how many clients miss out on using their HSA money and end up trying to itemize instead when they could have had a much simpler tax-free purchase!

California actually has some of the most taxpayer-friendly rules around medical expenses! While the state generally follows federal guidelines for medical deductions, California doesn't conform to all federal tax changes, which can sometimes work in your favor. One thing that's particularly helpful in California is that the state has a robust network of disability services and hearing aid assistance programs through the Department of Rehabilitation. While these don't directly affect your tax situation, they sometimes offer low-cost or sliding-scale hearing aids that could reduce your out-of-pocket costs significantly - making the tax deduction question less critical. California also tends to be more generous with what qualifies as medical expenses for state tax purposes. They typically allow deductions for things like travel costs to medical appointments, which can add up if you're driving to multiple audiologist visits. Your HSA strategy is definitely the way to go though - California doesn't tax HSA contributions or withdrawals for qualified medical expenses, so you'd get both federal and state tax benefits. Much simpler than trying to navigate the itemization maze! Since you're being so thoughtful about the planning, you might also want to check if your employer offers a dependent care FSA in addition to your HSA. Sometimes people overlook that option if they're helping elderly parents with medical expenses.